Ep 069: Who Was Dr. Weston A. Price? + Takeaways from Wise Traditions

In this episode of the Nutritional Therapy and Wellness Podcast, you'll learn who Dr. Weston A. Price was and what his groundbreaking research revealed about the connection between diet, physical health, and human flourishing. Dr. Price's global studies in the early 1900s showed that traditional, nutrient-dense, properly prepared foods produced strong, joyful, disease-resistant people — while modern, processed diets led to degeneration within a single generation.

Host Jamie Belz, FNTP, MHC explains how the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) continues Dr. Price's mission today by helping people live healthier, more holistic lives. Through education, community, and advocacy, WAPF promotes ancestral wisdom — from properly prepared, nutrient-dense foods to lifestyle practices that support balance, vitality, and lifelong wellness.

Then, Jamie welcomes fellow FNTP, Allison Mädl, who recently returned from the WAPF's Wise Traditions Conference in Salt Lake City. Together, they unpack the insights, research, and reflections she brought back — from nourishing, gourmet meals to saturated fat science, circadian rhythm optimization, fermentation, regenerative farming, and the revival of real-food education in schools. 

 

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Key Takeaways

• The Legacy of Dr. Weston A. Price and how ancestral diets rich in fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and enzymes built the foundation for strong bodies and resilient minds.

• Food Quality Determines Health Quality
  Properly prepared, nutrient-dense, locally sourced, whole foods — raw dairy, pastured meats, fermented vegetables, soaked grains, and healthy animal fats — remain the cornerstone of wellness. Nutrient density naturally balances appetite, stabilizes blood sugar, and sustains energy.

• Saturated Fats vs. Seed Oils: A Paradigm Shift
  Modern science is re-evaluating decades of misguided advice. Evidence now shows that natural saturated fats support longevity and hormone health, while industrial seed oils are unstable, oxidizing fats that accelerate inflammation and cellular damage.

• Cholesterol is Not the Enemy
  Dietary cholesterol doesn't raise blood cholesterol levels — high carbohydrate intake and metabolic dysfunction do. Cholesterol is essential for hormone production, cell membrane integrity, vitamin D synthesis, and more!.

• Light, Sleep, and Longevity
  Circadian rhythm is a biological foundation of health. Morning sunlight exposure, reduced nighttime blue light, and true darkness during sleep optimize melatonin production and activity, support mitochondrial function, and slow aging at the cellular level.

• Fermentation and the Microbiome
  Traditional ferments like kefir, kombucha, and natto restore microbial diversity and digestive resilience. Start small, vary your sources, and pay attention to how your body responds — real food is the most affordable and effective  probiotic.

• From Soil to Sovereignty
  Regenerative agriculture proves that nutrient-dense food starts with healthy soil. Farmers using organic and rotational methods see higher yields, stronger crops, and better economics without chemical dependency — improving both land and lives.

• Real-Food Education Changes Generations
  Teaching knife skills, broth-making, and gardening in schools reconnects children with the source of their food. These skills build confidence, reduce dependence on processed food, and restore a sense of value and purpose in young people.

• Community Nourishes as Much as Food
  The Wise Traditions Conference exemplifies what happens when like-minded people gather around shared values of health, freedom, and stewardship. The table becomes a place of healing — for body, mind, and spirit.

 

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About Our Guest — Allison Mädl, FNTP

Allison graduated as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner in 2014 and has served the NTA in various roles ever since. She is currently a Lead Instructor and Senior On-Demand Program Developer for the Nutritional Therapy Association and runs a private practice in North Idaho, where she works with clients both in the U.S. and abroad. She combines her passion for teaching and nutrition to help individuals rediscover what it means